The Somerset reporter., 1887-12-28
A HIGH PRICED VOLUME.
How Edwin Forrest secured a Copy of
the 1923 Edition of Shakespeare.


How Edwin Forrest Secured Copy of
the 1923 Edition of Shakespeare.
"a notice which | saw the other day,
that Messrs Funk & Wagnalls are about
publishing fac slnile edition of the 1923
folio edition Of Shakespeare, reminds me
of how Edwin Forrest bought his 1923
copy of Shakespeare, " said Philadelphia
gentleman at the Hoffman house one
evening. ~ was connected with the auc-
ton house of NJ. Thomas & Sons, i'll Phil
adelphia, for number of years, and For
rest used to come in the store u great deal
and patronze the book sales. He seldom
did any bidding himself, but used to tell
Mr.. Jennings, of the firm, and IL life long
friend of the actors, to buy certain books
for him. lie never left any limit to his
bids, but always said simply buy them.
II the auctioneer thought book was
bringing much more than its value, and
in Mr.. Forests interests let it go, the big
actor would storm and rave the next time
he came in, and declare that he would
never buy another book in the place if his
orders were not carried out to the letter
"But what | started to tell you was
about the famous old 1923 edition of
Shakespeare. You know there are only
few copies in the world, and they are
of great value, of course. Well, we had
a copy for sale one day, and it was so well
advertised, not only in this country, but
elsewhere, that agents from libraries in
England and other countries crossed the
ocean to buy it, The day before the sale
Forrest walked into the store and said to
Mr., Jennings:
Z" Il want that Shakespeare. Buy it.
'IIow high will you go?' asked Mr..
Jennings.
How high? don't know and l don't
care. Buy it. ! want it,
"Then Forrest stalked out without say
ing another word. The next day, when
the big folio was put up for sale, there
was some lively bidding The starting
price was 500 by an Englishman, and it
was not long before it reached 500.
Seven hundred and fifty dolarsN ut
last shouted the EnGlishman who had
started the book at Sl00
"'And 800 | have already said the
auctioneer, with a smile.
"'Who did you get the bid from? l
don't see any one else bidding now, said
the EnGlishman.
"'A gentleman left the bid with me-
"'Who was it2'
"'Ned Forrest
"'That settles it, said the bidder. If
Forrest wants that book there is no use
bidding against him. He'd give $50 600
for it rather than not get it. Pm through
bidding
"The auctioneer tried to get another
bid, but without success, and Mt last his
hammer fell and the Shakespeare belonged
to Forrest. The actor was delighted the
next day with his prize. He took it to
his mansion on North Broad street and
had glHsscase made for it. 1t was placed
in this case open at the title page and no
one was allowed to touch it, Forrest had
n fac-simile copy which he read. He gave
orders that if ever his house should get
on fire the 1893 Shakespeare WAS to be
the first thing saved. He had a magniii-
cent Shakespearean library, but the big
folio he considered was worth more than
all the rest put together, A curious
thing happened after Forrest died. \
defective flue caused little fire in his
library, and about the only thing of value
that was burned was that very 1923 edi-
ton that he priced 80 highly. New
York Evening Sun.